Public Works Museum shows off its heavy metal

Jess BlumbergTHE BALTIMORE SUN

When the Baltimore Public Works Museum celebrates its 20th birthday on Saturday, there will be no typical party. Instead, the museum is marking the occasion with a Heavy Metal Birthday Bash, offering guests a chance to interact with the machines that keep the city clean.

Equipment including a dump truck, a line-painting machine and a fire engine will be on site for guests to climb aboard and operate (in some cases). Kids can wear uniforms, gloves and hard hats and pretend to be workers.

City public-works employees will answer questions and explain how the equipment works. Visitors can also tour the museum and the outdoor interactive Streetscape exhibit. In addition, there will be craft projects, mascots and the obvious delicacy - a birthday cake.

The Heavy Metal Birthday Bash runs from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday at the Baltimore Public Works Museum at Pier 7, 751 Eastern Ave. Admission is $2.50, $2 seniors and students, free for ages 6 and under. Call 410-396-5565.